Dental filing tool handle

ABSTRACT

An improved handle for a dental filing tool, the tool having an arcuate handle with a horizontal bridge and opposed first and second vertical arms, the improvement including first and second sets of partial-cylindrical grip portions distributed along the outer surfaces of the first and second vertical arms, respectively, the grip portions aligned normal to the handle plane, the respective first and second sets defining convex or concave outer grip profiles and concave front-back grip profiles. An improved handle may further include an embedded socket to receive a coupler for a dental driver, or a projecting coupling to engage a dental driver coupling.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to,co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/715,733, filed Dec. 14,2012, which is a nonprovisional application of, and claims priority to,U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/639,804, filed Apr. 27, 2012,the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dental filing tools. More particularly,the present invention relates to improved dental filing tools usable bymanual manipulation or mountable to a motorized dental driver.

BACKGROUND

The current conventional method for fitting dental crowns, bridges,onlays and inlays, herein referred to generally as restorations,involves the dental practitioner sliding colored carbon paper, of whichthe thickness is the recommended measured distance between teeth,between the interproximal area of the tooth and the restoration. Thecarbon paper marks with carbon ink the proximal contact area where thetwo surfaces of the teeth and/or restoration are too dose, and then thepractitioner grinds the restoration with a rotary instrument to removeexcess material.

Another method employed is the stand alone use of a metal filing stripcoated with some superfine abrasive material. The metal filing strip isinserted into the interproximal area to file down the proximal contactarea of the crown for an accurate fit. Since the space between the toothand the crown, bridge, onlay, and inlay must not be too close or toospaced apart the practitioner must file incrementally. These steps arerepeated until the desired distance between the tooth and therestoration is achieved. Because the filing strip is extremely thin,narrow, and malleable, it is necessary for the practitioner to maintaintension in the strip by holding it taunt at opposite ends with fingersfrom both hands. Unfortunately holding the filing strip in such asmanner is cumbersome in the patient's mouth and impedes the practitionerfrom achieving desired angles and restricts range of motion toeffectively file. Especially when the patient is receiving crowns,bridges, onlays, or inlays in the back of the mouth where it isconsiderably more difficult to access, it is difficult for thepractitioner to file since both hands are needed to hold tension in thestrip and often a patient's mouth is too small or cannot open wideenough to accommodate the file comfortably. As a result, the patientmust endure strenuous stretching of the lips and jaw area. Often apractitioner struggles to find the best placement for fingers to pinchthe strip to create sufficient tension while attempting to minimize therestricting presence of both hands in the patient's mouth. This methodis inefficient, tiresome for the practitioner, and uncomfortable for thepatient. Moreover, because of the difficulty involved handling thefiling strip, often patients sustain suffer small cuts due to the sharpedges of the strip coming in contact with gums and lips while filing thetooth or restoration.

Another method employed is that a thin metal strip coated with fineabrasive material is fastened to a removable bow which is attached anextending handle. Generally, the bow and handle are too long to maneuverin the mouth and limit the size of abrasive strip which is actuallyproviding a working surface, such that it is ineffective for posteriorteeth. Additionally, it is difficult to grip the device by theprotruding handle, and the protruding handle interferes with grippingfrom the ends. These drawbacks have been addressed by tools manufacturedas unitary handles with the filing strip ends embedded within the arms,or by provided improved positive capture methods for the strips, such asby clamping within the arms—through apertures in the strip ends—usingsnap fittings.

Generally, hand-held filing apparatus are useful, but can rapidly causefatigue for the user due to difficulties gripping the device. Purelyrectilinear arrangements create flat, smooth opposed surfaces whichallow for only one orientation of the gripping fingers—i.e. horizontal.Additionally, sharp corners at the joints inhibit diagonal grips.Front-back gripping is possible, but is still less effective than thatprovided by a shaped surface. Additionally, knurled surfaces, orsurfaces with uniform dispersions of small protrusions or indents, arenot particularly effective to enhance gripping on such a small device,especially within the wet and slimy environment of a patient's mouth.These limitations may apply regardless whether the tool is of assembledor unitary construction, and regardless whether the strip is held intension or bowed.

The present invention solves these problems by providing an improvedhandle disposed along the outer surfaces of a tool handle, which iscompatible with unitary or assembled tools, and which is compatible withfiling tools which can be used manually or coupled to a dental drivermechanism.

SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES

The improved handle of the present invention presents numerousadvantages, including: (1) provides improved grip with improvedorientation to prevent slippage; (2) the use of partial-cylindricalgripping portions provides positive separation to allow saliva to runoff between the grip portions rather than accumulating, a common problemin dimpled or cross-hatched grips; (3) is useful for both manual files,and for manual files couplable to a power driven dental driver tool; (4)is useful for unitary handles with a file strip formed into the handle,and for handles designed to be assembled on-site with a file strip; (5)is useful for handles which hold an abrasive strip under tension, aswell as handles which hold an abrasive strip with a bow in the strip;(6) is amenable to injection molding methods.

Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theadvantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims. Further benefits and advantages of the embodiments ofthe invention will become apparent from consideration of the followingdetailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings,which specify and show preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of thepresent invention and, together with the detailed description, serve toexplain the principles and implementations of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows bottom edge view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a top edge view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows back view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows side view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows side view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows bottom edge view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a top edge view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows back view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows side view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows side view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows bottom edge view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a top edge view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows back view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows side view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows side view of a third embodiment.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN DRAWINGS

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, thefigures illustrate the present invention. With regard to the referencenumerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the variousdrawing figures:

-   10 First Embodiment-   12 Handle-   14 Filing Strip-   16 Horizontal Bridge-   18 First Vertical Arm-   20 Second Vertical Arm-   22 First Horizontal Bridge End-   24 Second Horizontal Bridge End-   26 First Vertical Arm Terminal End-   28 Second Vertical Arm Terminal End-   30 First Vertical Arm Outer Surface-   32 Second Vertical Arm Outer Surface-   34 First Vertical Arm-Horizontal Bridge Connection Region-   36 Second Vertical Arm-Horizontal Bridge Connection Region-   38 Handle Front Surface-   40 Handle Back Surface-   42 Handle Corner/Connection Region of First Vertical Arm-   44 Handle Corner/Connection Region of Second Vertical Arm-   46 Bridge Outer Surface-   100 First Set of Grip Portions-   102 Second Set of Grip Portions-   104 First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   106 Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   108 Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   110 Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   112 First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   114 Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   116 Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   118 Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   120 Outer surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   122 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   124 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   126 Outer surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   128 Outer surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   130 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   132 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   134 Outer surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   136 First Convex Grip Profile-   138 Second Convex Grip Profile-   140 First End Surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   142 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical    Arm-   144 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical    Arm-   146 First End Surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   148 First End Surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   150 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   152 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   154 First End Surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   156 Second End Surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   158 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   160 Second End Surface of interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   162 Second End Surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   164 Second End Surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   166 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   168 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   170 Second End Surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   172 First Vertical Arm Front Concave Grip Profile-   174 Second Vertical Arm Front Concave Grip Profile-   176 First Vertical Arm Back Concave Grip Profile-   178 Second Vertical Arm Back Concave Grip Profile-   1010 Second Embodiment-   1012 Handle-   1014 Filing Strip-   1016 Horizontal Bridge-   1018 First Vertical Arm-   1020 Second Vertical Arm-   1022 First Horizontal Bridge End-   1024 Second Horizontal Bridge End-   1026 First Vertical Arm Terminal End-   1028 Second Vertical Arm Terminal End-   1030 First Vertical Arm Outer Surface-   1032 Second Vertical Arm Outer Surface-   1034 First Vertical Arm-Horizontal Bridge Connection Region-   1036 Second Vertical Arm-Horizontal Bridge Connection Region-   1038 Handle Front Surface-   1040 Handle Back Surface-   1042 Handle Corner/Connection Region of First Vertical Arm-   1044 Handle Corner/Connection Region of Second Vertical Arm-   1046 Bridge Outer Surface-   1048 Receiving Socket-   1050 Coupler-   1052 Dental Driver-   1100 First Set of Grip Portions-   1102 Second Set of Grip Portions-   1104 First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1106 Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1108 Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1110 Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1112 First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1114 Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1116 Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1118 Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1120 Outer surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1122 Outer surface of interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical    Arm-   1124 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical    Arm-   1126 Outer surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1128 Outer surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1130 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   1132 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   1134 Outer surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1136 First Convex Grip Profile-   1138 Second Convex Grip Profile-   1140 First End Surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1142 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   1144 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   1146 First End Surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1148 First End Surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1150 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   1152 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   1154 First End Surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1156 Second End Surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1158 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   1160 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   1162 Second End Surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   1164 Second End Surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   1166 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   1168 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   1170 Second End Surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   1172 First Vertical Arm Front Concave Grip Profile-   1174 Second Vertical Arm Front Concave Grip Profile-   1176 First Vertical Arm Back Concave Grip Profile-   1178 Second Vertical Arm Back Concave Grip Profile-   2010 Third Embodiment-   2012 Handle-   2014 Filing Strip-   2016 Horizontal Bridge-   2018 First Vertical Arm-   2020 Second Vertical Arm-   2022 First Horizontal Bridge End-   2024 Second Horizontal Bridge End-   2026 First Vertical Arm Terminal End-   2028 Second Vertical Arm Terminal End-   2030 First Vertical Arm Outer Surface-   2032 Second Vertical Arm Outer Surface-   2034 First Vertical Arm-Horizontal Bridge Connection Region-   2036 Second Vertical Arm-Horizontal Bridge Connection Region-   2038 Handle Front Surface-   2040 Handle Back Surface-   2042 Handle Corner/Connection Region of First Vertical Arm-   2044 Handle Corner/Connection Region of Second Vertical Arm-   2046 Bridge Outer Surface-   2048 Projecting Coupler    -   2050 Dental Driver Tool Coupler-   2052 Dental Driver-   2100 First Set of Grip Portions-   2102 Second Set of Grip Portions-   2104 First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2106 Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2108 Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2110 Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2112 First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2114 Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2116 Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2118 Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2120 Outer surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2122 Outer surface of interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical    Arm-   2124 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First Vertical    Arm-   2126 Outer surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2128 Outer surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2130 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   2132 Outer surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   2134 Outer surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2136 First Concave Grip Profile-   2138 Second Concave Grip Profile-   2140 First End Surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2142 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   2144 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   2146 First End Surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2148 First End Surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2150 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   2152 First End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   2154 First End Surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2156 Second End Surface of First Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2158 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   2160 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on First    Vertical Arm-   2162 Second End Surface of Second Grip Portion on First Vertical Arm-   2164 Second End Surface of First Grip Portion on Second Vertical Arm-   2166 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   2168 Second End Surface of Interstitial Grip Portion on Second    Vertical Arm-   2170 Second End Surface of Second Grip Portion on Second Vertical    Arm-   2172 First Vertical Arm Front Concave Grip Profile-   2174 Second Vertical Arm Front Concave Grip Profile-   2176 First Vertical Arm Back Concave Grip Profile-   2178 Second Vertical Arm Back Concave Grip Profile-   2180 Projecting Coupler First Part-   2182 Projecting Coupler Second Part-   2184 Hollow Tube Coupling-   2186 Tube Coupling First End-   2188 Tube Coupling Second End-   2190 Tube Coupling Open Seam-   2192 Projecting Coupler/Filing Strip Overlap

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before beginning a detailed description of the subject invention,mention of the following is in order. When appropriate, like referencematerials and characters are used to designate identical, corresponding,or similar components in differing figure drawings. The figure drawingsassociated with this disclosure typically are not drawn with dimensionalaccuracy to scale, i.e., such drawings have been drafted with a focus onclarity of viewing and understanding rather than dimensional accuracy.

In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of theimplementations described herein are shown and described. It will, ofcourse, be appreciated that in the development of any such actualimplementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be madein order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliancewith application- and business-related constraints, and that thesespecific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from onedeveloper to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such adevelopment effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a first embodiment of an improved dental filingtool 10 is provided. FIGS. 1-6 generally demonstrate a pre-existingdesign. Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the pre-existing apparatus includesarcuate handle 12 and a filing strip 14. Handle 12 includes a horizontalbridge 16 and opposed first and second vertical arms 18, 20 extending inparallel from opposite ends 22, 24 of the bridge to terminal ends 26,28, the vertical arms 18, 20 having outer surfaces 30, 32, respectively,and being adapted to hold filing strip 14 extending between them, thehorizontal bridge 16 and vertical arms 18, 20 generally defining ahandle plane.

The improvement includes first and second sets 100, 102 ofpartial-cylindrical grip portions 104, 106, 108, 110 and 112, 114, 116,118, respectively, distributed along the outer surfaces 30, 32 of thefirst and second vertical arms 18, 20, respectively, the grip portions104-118 extending longitudinally from a first end surface, 140-154,respectively, proximate to—and extending past—the handle front surfaceto a second end surface 156-170, respectively, proximate to—andextending past—the handle back surface. The partial-cylindrical gripportions 104-118 are aligned normal (i.e. with the longitudinal axisaligned transversely) to the handle plane. Grip portions 104-118 aredescribed as “partial-cylindrical” because the general shape of theprotruding portion of their profiles appears like a cylinder embeddedtransversely within the respective handle vertical arms 18 and 20.Rounded cross-sections such as circles or ovals may provide greatercomfort, but a user may prefer sharper edges for use with thicker latexgloves. Rounded cross-sections also make it easier to apply a roundedend surface (140-170) if desired, because the three-dimensional shape isless complex. Additionally, rounded shapes may be easier to produce byinjection molding methods, with less dimensional instability problems(common at corner profiles) and more uniform melting.

Each set 100, 102 includes a first grip portion 102, 112 disposedproximate the respective vertical arm terminal end 26, 28, a second gripportion 110, 118 disposed proximate the connection region 34, 36 of thebridge 16 and respective vertical arm 18, 20, and a plurality ofspaced-apart interstitial grip portions 106, 108 and 114, 116distributed between the first and second grip portions 104, 110 and 112,118, respectively.

The outer surfaces 120, 122, 124, 126 and 128, 130, 132, 134 of each ofthe first and second sets 100, 102, respectively, trace a convex gripprofile, 136, 138, respectively. Outer surfaces 120-134 refer to theexposed exterior surfaces proximate the first and second arm outersurfaces 30, 32, and excluding end surfaces 140-170. Convex gripprofiles 136, 138, can be described as tangent arcs, as each representsa continuous arc intersecting a point on the perimeter or outer surface120-134 of each grip portion 104-118.

Each grip portion 104-118 extends from a first end surface 140, 142,144, 146, 148 150, 152, 154, respectively, to a second end surface 156,158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, respectively. The respective endsurfaces 140-154 project outward from the respective front and backhandle surfaces, 38 and 40, to provide enhanced grip when heldfront-back (in the embodiment, the handle front and back form mirrorimages). In the embodiment, the end surfaces of each of first and secondsets 100, 102 of grip portions 104-118, project outward from the handlefront and back surfaces 38, 40, and trace a concave grip profile 172,174, 176, 178, with each of the first and second grip portions 104, 112and 110,116, respectively, projecting farther than the respectiveinterstitial grip portions 106, 108 and 114, 116. In the embodiment, theconcave grip profiles 172-178 trace a tangent arc which intersects withthe end-point of each end surface 140-146, 148-154, 156-162 and 164-170,respectively.

In the embodiment, each of the grip portion first and second endsurfaces 140-170 are rounded, in this case semispherical. Other endsurface profiles could be used as well. The rounded surfaces providegreater comfort when tightly gripped.

In the embodiment, each first grip portion 104, 112 is located at thevertical arm terminal end 24, 26, respectively. Each first grip portion104, 112 radius matches the corner radius of its respective vertical armterminal end, 24, 26 such that each outer surface 120, 128 of therespective first grip portion 104, 112 is flush with the outer surfaceof the vertical arm terminal end 26, 28, respectively.

In the embodiment, each of the second grip portions, 110 and 118,respectively, is located at the corner of the handle 12, at theconnection region 42, 44 of the respective vertical arm 18, 20 andhorizontal bridge first and second ends 22, 24. Each second grip portionradius matches the corner radius of handle 12, such that the outersurface 126, 134 of the respective second grip portion is flush with theouter surfaces of the respective vertical arm 30, 32 and horizontalbridge outer surface 46.

Providing grip portions at the “four corners” of a filing tool, withouter surfaces matching the outer surface contours of the filing toolhandle, provides improved grip when fingers are positioned across thediagonal, and provide easier shifting of the user's grip between pointsalong the entire span of the vertical arms—an important consideration inthe confined space of a patient's mouth. The convex end-to-end gripprofiles 136, 138 and the concave front-to-back grip profiles 172, 174,176, 178 provide enhanced gripping for any orientation of the grippingfingers.

Referring to FIGS. 7-12, a second embodiment 1010 is shown demonstratingan improved filing tool couplable to a power-driven dental driver. FIGS.7-12 generally demonstrate a pre-existing design as in the firstembodiment, but the improvement further including a receiving socket1048 embedded within handle 1012, proximate the second verticalarm—horizontal bridge connection region 1036 and extending intohorizontal bridge 1016. Receiving socket 1048 is adapted to receive acoupler 1050, the coupler 1050 to removably couple the apparatus 1010 toa dental driver tool. The pre-existing apparatus includes arcuate handle1012 and a filing strip 1014. Handle 1012 includes a horizontal bridge1016 and opposed first and second vertical arms 1018, 1020 extending inparallel from opposite ends 1022, 1024 of the bridge to terminal ends1026, 1028, the vertical arms 1018, 1020 having outer surfaces 1030,1032, respectively, and being adapted to hold filing strip 1014extending between them, the horizontal bridge 1016 and vertical arms1018, 1020 generally defining a handle plane. Receiving socket 1048 isinset within handle 1012, and adapted to receive a coupler 1051) toremovably couple to a dental driver 1052. Receiving socket 1048 does notextend beyond outer surfaces 1120-1134 so as not to interfere withmanual gripping. In the embodiment, the edge of receiving socket 1048 isflush with first arm outer surface 1032.

The improvement includes first and second sets 1100, 1102 ofpartial-cylindrical grip portions 1104, 1106, 1108, 1110 and 1112, 1114,1116, 1118, respectively, distributed along the outer surfaces 1030,1032 of the first and second vertical arms 1018, 1020, respectively, thegrip portions 1104-1118 extending longitudinally from a first endsurface, 1140-154, respectively, proximate to—and extending past—thehandle front surface to a second end surface 1156-1170, respectively,proximate to—and extending past—the handle back surface. Thepartial-cylindrical grip portions 1104-1118 are aligned normal (i.e.with the longitudinal axis aligned transversely) to the handle plane.Grip portions 1104-1118 are described as “partial-cylindrical” becausethe general shape of the protruding portion of their profiles appearslike a cylinder embedded transversely within the respective handlevertical arms 1018 and 1020. Rounded cross-sections such as circles orovals may provide greater comfort, but a user may prefer sharper edgesfor use with thicker latex gloves. Rounded cross-sections also make iteasier to apply a rounded end surface (1140-1170) if desired, becausethe three-dimensional shape is less complex. Additionally, roundedshapes may be easier to produce by injection molding methods, with lessdimensional instability problems (common at corner profiles) and moreuniform melting.

Each set 1100, 1102 includes a first grip portion 1102, 1112 disposedproximate the respective vertical arm terminal end 1026, 1028, a secondgrip portion 1110, 1118 disposed proximate the connection region 1034,1036 of the bridge 1016 and respective vertical arm 1018, 1020, and aplurality of spaced-apart interstitial grip portions 1106, 1108 and1114, 1116 distributed between the first and second grip portions 1104,1110 and 1112, 1118, respectively.

The outer surfaces 1120, 1122, 1124, 1126 and 1128, 1130, 1132, 1134 ofeach of the first and second sets 1100, 1102, respectively, trace aconvex grip profile, 1136, 1138, respectively. Outer surfaces 1120-1134refer to the exposed exterior surfaces proximate the first and secondarm outer surfaces 1030, 1032, and excluding end surfaces 1140-1170.Convex grip profiles 1136, 1138, can be described as tangent arcs, aseach represents a continuous arc intersecting a point on the perimeterour outer surface 1120-1134 of each grip portion 1104-1118.

Each grip portion 1104-1118 extends from a first end surface 1140, 1142,1144, 1146, 1148 1150, 1152, 1154, respectively, to a second end surface1156, 1158, 1160, 1162, 1164, 1166, 1168, 1170, respectively. Therespective end surfaces 1140-1154 project outward from the respectivefront and back handle surfaces, 1038 and 1040, to provide enhanced gripwhen held front-back (in the embodiment, the handle front and back formmirror images). In the embodiment, the end surfaces of each of first andsecond sets 1100, 1102 of grip portions 1104-1118, project outward fromthe handle front and back surfaces 1038, 1040, and trace a concave gripprofile 1172, 1174, 1176, 1178, with each of the first and second gripportions 1104, 1112 and 1110, 1116, respectively, projecting fartherthan the respective interstitial grip portions 1106, 1108 and 1114,1116. In the embodiment, the concave grip profiles 1172-1178 trace atangent arc which intersects with the end-point of each end surface1140-1146, 1148-1154, 1156-1162 and 1164-1170, respectively.

In the embodiment, each of the grip portion first and second endsurfaces 1140-1170 are rounded, in this case semispherical. Other endsurface profiles could be used as well. The rounded surfaces providegreater comfort when tightly gripped.

In the embodiment, each first grip portion 1104, 1112 is located at thevertical arm terminal end 1024, 1026, respectively. Each first gripportion 1104, 1112 radius matches the corner radius of its respectivevertical arm terminal end, 1024, 1026 such that each outer surface 1120,1128 of the respective first grip portion 1104, 1112 is flush with theouter surface of the vertical arm terminal end 1026, 1028, respectively.

In the embodiment, each of the second grip portions, 1110 and 1118,respectively, is located at the corner of the handle 1012, at theconnection region 1042, 1044 of the respective vertical arm 1018, 1020and horizontal bridge first and second ends 1022, 1024. Each second gripportion radius matches the corner radius of handle 1012, such that theouter surface 1126, 1134 of the respective second grip portion is flushwith the outer surfaces of the respective vertical arm 1030, 1032 andhorizontal bridge outer surface 1046.

The operation of the embodiments is straight forward. The user grips thefiling tool handle 12, 1012 with two fingers—typically a thumb andforefinger—at the desired orientation to reach the location to be workedon within a patient's mouth, shifting the orientation of the grip asdesired. Any number of methods may be used to produce the improvedhandle, the most common being by injection molding plastic. However, thehandle grip may be accomplished by laser cutting methods, stamping anddie cutting, or any other suitable method depending on the handlematerial.

Referring to FIGS. 13-18, a third embodiment 2010 is shown demonstratingan improved filing tool couplable to a power-driven dental driver. FIGS.13-18 generally demonstrate a pre-existing design as in the first andsecond embodiments, but the improvement further includes a projectingcoupler 2048 projecting from handle 2012, proximate the second verticalarm terminal end 2028.

The pre-existing apparatus includes arcuate handle 2012 and a filingstrip 2014. Handle 2012 includes a horizontal bridge 2016 and opposedfirst and second vertical arms 2018, 2020 extending in parallel fromopposite ends 2022, 2024 of the bridge to terminal ends 2026, 2028, thevertical arms 2018, 2020 having outer surfaces 2030, 2032, respectively,and being adapted to hold filing strip 2014 extending between them, thehorizontal bridge 2016 and vertical arms 2018, 2020 generally defining ahandle plane.

The improvement includes first and second sets 2100, 2102 ofpartial-cylindrical grip portions 2104, 2106, 2108, 2110 and 2112, 2114,2116, 2118, respectively, distributed along the outer surfaces 2030,2032 of the first and second vertical arms 2018, 2020, respectively, thegrip portions 2104-2118 extending longitudinally from a first endsurface, 2140-2154, respectively, proximate to—and extending past—thehandle front surface to a second end surface 2156-2170, respectively,proximate to—and extending past—the handle back surface. Thepartial-cylindrical grip portions 2104-2118 are aligned normal (i.e.with the longitudinal axis aligned transversely) to the handle plane.Grip portions 2104-2118 are described as “partial-cylindrical” becausethe general shape of the protruding portion of their profiles appearslike a cylinder embedded transversely within the respective handlevertical arms 2018 and 2020. Rounded cross-sections such as circles orovals may provide greater comfort, but a user may prefer sharper edgesfor use with thicker latex gloves. Rounded cross-sections also make iteasier to apply a rounded end surface (2140-2170) if desired, becausethe three-dimensional shape is less complex. Additionally, roundedshapes may be easier to produce by injection molding methods, with lessdimensional instability problems (common at corner profiles) and moreuniform melting.

Each set 2100, 2102 includes a first grip portion 2102, 2112 disposedproximate the respective vertical arm terminal end 2026, 2028, a secondgrip portion 2110, 2118 disposed proximate the connection region 2034,2036 of the bridge 2016 and respective vertical arm 2018, 2020, and aplurality of spaced-apart interstitial grip portions 2106, 2108 and2114, 2116 distributed between the first and second grip portions 2104,2110 and 2112, 2118, respectively.

In the embodiment, the outer surfaces 2120, 2122, 2124, 2126 and 2128,2130, 2132, 2134 of each of the first and second sets 2100, 2102,respectively, trace a concave grip profile, 2136, 2138, respectively.Outer surfaces 2120-2134 refer to the exposed exterior surfacesproximate the first and second arm outer surfaces 2030, 2032, andexcluding end surfaces 2140-2170. Convex grip profiles 2136, 2138, canbe described as tangent arcs, as each represents a continuous arcintersecting a point on the perimeter our outer surface 2120-2134 ofeach grip portion 2104-2118.

Each grip portion 2104-2118 extends from a first end surface 2140, 2142,2144, 2146, 2148, 2150, 2152, 2154, respectively, to a second endsurface 2156, 2158, 2160, 2162, 2164, 2166, 2168, 2170, respectively.The respective end surfaces 2140-2154 project outward from therespective front and back handle surfaces, 2038 and 2040, to provideenhanced grip when held front-back (in the embodiment, the handle frontand back form mirror images). In the embodiment, the end surfaces ofeach of first and second sets 2100, 2102 of grip portions 2104-2118,project outward from the handle front and back surfaces 2038, 2040, andtrace a concave grip profile 2172, 2174, 2176, 2178, with each of thefirst and second grip portions 2104, 2112 and 2110, 2116, respectively,projecting further than the respective interstitial grip portions 2106,2108 and 2114, 2116. In the embodiment, the concave grip profiles2172-2178 trace a tangent arc which intersects with the end-point ofeach end surface 2140-2146, 2148-2154, 2156-2162 and 2164-2170,respectively.

In the embodiment, each of the grip portion first and second endsurfaces 2140-2170 are rounded, in this case semispherical. Other endsurface profiles could be used as well. The rounded surfaces providegreater comfort when tightly gripped.

In the embodiment, each first grip portion 2104, 2112 is located at thevertical arm terminal end 2024, 2026, respectively. In the embodiment,each of the second grip portions, 2110 and 2118, respectively, islocated at the corner of the handle 2012, at the connection region 2042,2044 of the respective vertical arm 2018, 2020 and horizontal bridgefirst and second ends 2022, 2024.

Projecting coupler 2048 includes a first part 2180 embedded withinsecond vertical arm 2020 proximate second vertical arm terminal end 1028and overlapping a terminal end of filing strip 2014, and a second part2182 extending outward from second vertical arm 2020, the second part2182 including a coupling 2184 to engage a dental driver. Projectingcoupler first part 2180 may be embedded at another location withinhandle 2012 which provides sufficient depth of material to reliably holdand support projecting coupler 2048, for example proximate secondvertical arm-horizontal bridge connection region 1036. Aligningprojecting coupler 2048 with filing strip 2014 provides severaladditional advantages, such as: (1) projecting coupler 2048 interferesless with manual use of the improved file when gripped end-to-end; (2)the force applied by the dental driver is aligned with the resistancefrom the dental strip, thereby minimizing torque and fatigue on thecoupler; and, (3) the filing strip 2014 and projecting coupler 2048 maybe formed from a single piece of material, or joined to form acontinuous body, to enhance the strength of the coupler and apparatusoverall. In the described embodiment, hatched region 2192 shows theoverlapping of the projecting coupler first end 2180 and an end offiling strip 2014 a.

In the third embodiment, the coupler second part 2182 includes a hollowtube coupling 2184 extending from a first end 2186 connected to theprojecting coupler first part 2180 to a second end 2188, the tubecoupling open at the second end 2188, the tube further including an openseam 2190 extending from the tube second end 2188 to the tube first end2186. Seam 2190 allows tube coupling 2184 to flex open slightly in orderto tightly grip around a corresponding mounting post or stub, orcompress slightly to fit tightly within a corresponding receivingsleeve. The thickness and dimensions of tube coupling 2184 are selectedto remain within the elastic range of the material when engaged to aselected dental driver tool coupler, such that the spring tension causestube coupling 2184 to tightly grip a mounting post of a selected dentaldriver tool.

The concave end-grip design of the third embodiment may be combined withthe flush socket coupling design of the second embodiment, and theconvex end-grip design of the first and second embodiments may becombined with the projecting coupler design of the third embodiment.

Partial-cylinder portions have additional advantages relating to handleswith tapered interior edges. The partial-cylinder outer surfaces and endsurfaces provide enhanced surface area for gripping an otherwise thinedge-region, with improved gripping ability over simply knurling thesurface or a uniform protrusion pattern distributed over the entiresurface.

The improved handle may be used with filing strips mounted under tensionor bowed. Additionally, the improved handle is useful in conjunctionwith a manual filing tool couplable to a power driven dental driver. Thepartial-cylindrical grip portions extend outward past the coupler usedto connect to the driver, providing greater comfort and more reliablemanual grip.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications andchanges may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing fromthe scope of the claimed invention. It will, of course, be understoodthat modifications of the invention, in its various aspects, will beapparent to those skilled in the art, some being apparent only afterstudy, others being matters of routine mechanical, chemical andelectronic design. No single feature, function or property of thepreferred embodiment is essential. Other embodiments are possible, theirspecific designs depending upon the particular application. As such, thescope of the invention should not be limited by the particularembodiments herein described but should be defined only by the appendedclaims and equivalents thereof.

I claim:
 1. An improved handle for a dental filing tool, the tool havingan arcuate handle with a horizontal bridge and opposed first and secondvertical arms extending from opposite ends of the bridge to terminalends, the vertical arms and bridge having outer surfaces and beingadapted to hold a filing strip extending between them, the horizontalbridge and vertical arms generally defining a handle plane and having afront surface and a back surface, the improvement comprising: first andsecond sets of partial-cylindrical grip portions distributed along theouter surfaces of the first and second vertical arms, respectively, eachof the grip portions extending longitudinally from a first end surfaceprojected outward from the handle front surface to a second end surfaceprojected outward from the handle back surface, each of the gripportions aligned longitudinally normal to the handle plane; and, eachset comprising a first grip portion disposed proximate the vertical armterminal end, a second grip portion disposed proximate the connectionregion of the bridge and respective vertical arm, and a plurality ofspaced-apart interstitial grip portions distributed between the firstand second grip portions.
 2. The improved dental filing tool of claim 1,the improvement further comprising: wherein, the outer surfaces of eachof the first and second sets trace a convex grip profile.
 3. Theimproved dental filing tool of claim 1, the improvement furthercomprising: wherein the respective first end surfaces and second endsurfaces of each of the first and second sets trace a concave gripprofile.
 4. The improved dental filing tool of claim 2, the improvementfurther comprising: wherein the respective first end surfaces and secondend surfaces of each of the first and second sets trace a concave gripprofile.
 5. The improved dental filing tool of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, theimprovement further comprising: wherein each second grip portion of thefirst and second sets is includes a round cross-section and is disposedproximate the corner defined by the intersection of the horizontalbridge outer surface and the respective first or second arm outersurface, and each second grip portion radius matches the respectivecorner radius such that the outer surface of each second grip portion isflush with the outer surfaces of the respective corner, vertical arm andhorizontal bridge.
 6. Claim 5, the improvement further comprising:wherein each first grip portion includes around cross-section and isdisposed at the terminal end of its respective vertical arm, wherein theouter surface of the respective arm defines a corner at its terminalend, and each first grip portion radius matches the corner radius of therespective vertical arm outer surface terminal end corner, such that theouter surface of the first grip portion is flush with the outer surfacesof the vertical arm terminal end corner.
 7. The improved dental filingtool of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, the improvement further comprising: aprojecting coupler having a first part embedded within the handle firstarm and a second part extending outward from the handle first arm, thesecond part comprising a dental driver coupling.
 8. The improved dentalfiling tool of claim 7, the improvement further comprising: the couplersecond part including a hollow tube extending from a first end connectedto the projecting coupler first part to a second end, the tube open atthe second end, the tube further including an open seam extending fromthe second end to the first end.
 9. The improved dental filing tool ofclaim 8, the improvement further comprising: wherein each of the endsurfaces is semispherical.
 10. An improved handle for a dental filingtool, the tool having an arcuate handle with a horizontal bridge andopposed first and second vertical arms extending from opposite ends ofthe bridge to terminal ends, the vertical arms and bridge having outersuraces and being adapted to hold a filing strip extending between them,the horizontal bridge and vertical arms generally defining a handleplane and having a front surface and a back surface, the improvementcomprising: first and second sets of partial-cylindrical grip portionsdistributed along the outer surfaces of the first and second verticalarms, respectively, each of the grip portions extending longitudinallyfrom a first end surface projected outward from the handle front surfaceto a second end surface projected outward from the handle back surface,each of the grip portions aligned longitudinally normal to the handleplane; and, each set comprising a first grip portion disposed proximatethe vertical arm terminal end, a second grip portion disposed proximatethe connection region of the bridge and respective vertical arm, and aplurality of spaced-apart interstitial grip portions distributed betweenthe first and second grip portions. wherein, the outer surfaces of eachof the first and second sets trace a convex grip profile.
 11. Theimproved dental filing tool of claim 10, the improvement furthercomprising: wherein the respective first end surfaces and second endsurfaces of each of the first and second sets trace a concave gripprofile.
 12. The improved dental filing tool of claims 10 or 11, theimprovement further comprising: a receiving socket embedded within thehandle first or second arm, the receiving socket adapted to receive amale coupler to removably couple the filing tool to a dental driver, thesocket flush not extending beyond the respective set of grip portionouter surfaces.
 13. The improved dental filing tool of claims 10 or 11,the improvement further comprising: a projecting coupler having a firstpart embedded within the handle first arm and a second part extendingoutward from the handle first arm, the second part comprising a dentaldriver coupling.
 14. The improved dental filing tool of claim 13, theimprovement further comprising: the coupler second part including ahollow tube extending from a first end connected to the projectingcoupler first part to a second end, the tube open at the second end, thetube further including an open seam extending from the second end to thefirst end.
 15. The improved dental filing tool of claims 10, 11 or 12,the improvement further comprising: wherein each of the end surfaces issemispherical.
 16. The improved dental filing tool of claim 13 theimprovement further comprising: wherein each of the end surfaces issemispherical.
 17. The improved dental tiling tool of claim 14, theimprovement further comprising: wherein each of the end surfaces issemispherical.
 18. The improved dental filing tool of claim 13, farthercomprising: wherein the projecting coupler first part overlaps with aterminal end of the filing strip.
 19. The improved dental filing tool ofclaim 14, further comprising: wherein the projecting coupler first partoverlaps with a terminal end of the filing strip.
 20. The improveddental filing tool of claim 13, further comprising: wherein theprojecting coupler first part is connected with a terminal end of thefiling strip.
 21. The improved dental filing tool of claim 14, furthercomprising: wherein the projecting coupler first part is connected witha terminal end of the filing strip.